Apparatus for canning food.



No. 665,02l. Patented 1an. 1,1901. G. LEES.

APPARATUS FDR GANNING FOOD.

(Application led Aug. 18, 1899. Renewed June 8, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet O O O O G O iNo. 665,02I. Patented Jan. I, i90l. G. LEES.

APPARATUS FR CNMNE FGOD.

(Application led Aug. 18, 1899. 'Renewed June 8, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

hed the carriage.

rontents of the cans are to be treated ac-` ends of the `\"ertically-movable screw-rods l' i'. The lower end of the bar d moves through a bearing in a bracket-arm 1G, connected to the iixed head of the vacuum-tank, and the bar e is received in notches in the carriage body and the adjustable platforms 1^ c' ai, the other cud of the carriage. Upon the bars d e are adjustable brackets d' nand pressurebrackets ff'.

The brackeis 7' c serve as supports for the platforms duringr a part of the operation of creating a vacuum in the cans iinthe tank,

and the brackets fj" como into play to hold down the platforms and the covers of the cans during the admission of air to the tank to seal the cans and hold their covo-rs in pince by atmospheric pressure. These brackeisfl e' and the pressure-brackeisff' are showt? to better advantage in Fig. 2, that they reach laterally across the platforms at either side of the bars Z e.

-ln the operation of my vacuum-tank the carriage 1J, with its adjustable platforms, is upon a track outside ofthe vacuum-tank, and in this position the carriage and the platforms are loaded with the cans to be Isealed and whose contents are to be cooked or otherwise treated, the platform c bearing upon the lower group of cans and the platform o' upon the upper group of cans. The carriage, with its load of cans, is now run into the vacuumtank, and the adjustable brackets d e are so placed beneath the respective ends of the platforms that said platforms come into close proximity, but free from the lidsof the cans, butso close, however, that the action of exhausting the air will not shift the lids or covers of the cans. This movement is effected through the medium of the vertically-movable rods i Ii andthe couplings l1y h', that emr nectthe same io the bars (l e, and the hinged end a2 is swung against the end of the tank andthe rubber gasket and the swinging arms are brought over between the forked lugs and strained to apply pressure to hold this movable end with an air-tight seal to the body of the vacuumdpank. The air is now exhausted from the vacuum-tank through the exhaustpipe G to create any degree or extent of vacuum that may be required in the tank. ln creating this vacuum of course all air, or the larger percentage thereof,is not only removed from the tank, but from within the cans, above the contents thereof, as well'as the air held in the contents of the can. After this vacuu 1n is established the valve shown in the pipe 6 is closed and the rods 1I i' are rotated and lowered, so as to allow the platforms to descend upon the covers of the cans, and these rods are further lowered to bring the pressure-brackets ff down tightly upon the top shelf, so as lo securely close all of the cans, the pressure being transmitted through the upper group of cans and the platform c to the lower group of cans resting firmly upon the When so sealed, the

which shows coi-dingr to the character of the contents beingl cooked or otherwise treated. cooking or other treatment of the contents of the cans, andV especially so where heat Vis employed, it is necessary to cool the cans,

and while the cookingoperation'is preferably done by steam' admitted into the tank through the pipe 7 thecooling-waterempioyed after the cooking,r is ad mitted through the pipe and valve at S and linds an exit through the pipe and valve 9, or .'ice versa. After the cans have been vcooled and before they can be removedthe air m List be admitted to the tank, so that the atmospheric pressure can collie into effect upon the cans to close the covers securely and hold the same in place, there being, of course, a vacuum within the canti. To do this, and. prevent any air accidentally finding access into the cans, I still keep the pressure-brackets ff'in place andthe covers held forcibly down upon the bodies of the cans while the air is admitted through the pipe and valve 6 until the pressure within the tank is equal to the pressure without, after which the movable end a2 is loosened and swung out of place, so that the carriage may be withdrawn from the tank for the removal of its contents, the placing of other cans upon the platform, and the repeating of the operations just described.

The upper ends of the bars After the4 d e are provided.

with eyes, and the couplings h 71,' are made in two parts and are held regt-ether removably by the clampingbolts14,aud connecting-pins l5 pass through the eyes at thev upper endsof said bars and through lugs on the respective i parts of the couplings to removably suspend the said bars d' e from the couplings, and the upper ends of the couplings are made with sockets and the lower ends of the screwn'ods i 1l' are made with balls to fit said socket-simi that in raisingr and lowering the bars d! @the same may not be turned by the `rotation of the rods ii. While the bar (lis nominaliya fixture, the bar e is movable, and before the carriage and contents are removed from4 the tank said bar e must either be removediqith its brackets by taking awaythe pin eonnieting the same with the coupling hor the same must be swung npont of the way andbe supported in such position to be lowered to place or to be replaced after the carriage and contents are again run inte the tank in repeating the operations.

ln my improved vacuum-tank it is possible to treat other goods than those con tained in cans with closure-covers, and in this connection I would remark that meat of various kinds, such as hamsland eorn-beef, maybe pickled-:or otherwise treated by being sus-l` pended' from the platforms of 'the carriage ilo and run into the tank and the tank closed,

and when the air is exhausted from the tan i the pores of the meat are openedgeo thatthe.

air within the meatescapes and is drawn', away with the air from the tank and the pickling liquid may be introduced through vward, and means connected to tho said bars and the vertically-movable rods 'L' if pass.'

and from the pipes S 9 and the tank filled with the saine, which pickling iiquid willenter the porcs of the meat andpermeate the same 'thoroughly to'ele'dt the pickling operation. p

Vl claim as my in sentierillrln an apimratns for canning food, the combination with the cylinder, a removable end and a track Within Athe cylinder, of

movable earriage vupon saidtraolf, guide-bars rising vertically 'from the carriage and adj ustable platforms through which said guidebars pass, 'means within thepylinder for sun' porting;r the platforms of the carriage and their contents lnring a portion of the opera-' rions employed in the tank and means for holding down the eovers of the cans during the admission, off air, substantially as 'set forth.

2. In an apparatus for oanning'food, the combination with a cylinder, a removable end, a track anda carriage adapted to be moved in and'out of the cylinder'and to receive cans and. their contents for treatment, of midollare adjacent to the respective ends of the emi-ringe, brackets connected to said guide-bars for supporting `the platforms at their en( for pressing the same downfor moving the same and the b ackets vertically to perform their various functions, substan tially as set forth.

`In an apparatus for canning food, the combination with a'oylinder, a removable end., a track and a carriage' adapted to be moved in and ont of the cylinder and to re` ceive vans and their contents for treatmentlof ,snide-bars adjacent to the respective ends of the carriage, braekets connected to said guide-bars for supporting the platforms at their ends and for pressing the same downward, and eonplings eonneoted to said bars and vertieally movable rods and stuflingboxes surrounding the same and secured to the cylinder, the lower ends of tin-:said rods being; connected to the Couplings by a balland-socket joint, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in an apparatusior eanning food with a cylinder, a elosable end therefor, a trank' IWithin the Cylinder, a earrianfe adapted to be moved in and ont of the cylinder on the track and tohold the cans of goods to be treated, of' the vertical bar (Z the guide lli i'l'ierefor at the lower end, the vertical bar e received in. notohes in the carriaee and platform at the oppositoend, the adjustabie brackets d e' upon the said bars (l e, the adj ustable pressore-braekots upon saidv bars above the upper platform, couplings It' to which the upper e'nds of the said bars are remoifably connected, and which nouplings contain sockets, the sinl'liinr-lmxes connected upon the outside of the 4cylinrlm n thrensrh the s1;.nllin;1;-b ,\xes and having balls er knobs at their lmvermids fitting the sock l ets of the couplings, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination in'an apparatus for' h towhich the npper'ends of the said bars, are removably connected, and Whiohoonpfv lings contain sockets, v,the stuing-boxes connected upon the outsidel ofthe cylinder` and the verticallymovable rods i passi g through the stuffing-boxes and having balls or knobs at their lower ends fitting the sookl i ets of 'the couplings, the couplings-'h h'gbeing made in two parts and the boltsl/i for holding thetwo parts together removably,

whereby the parts may be disconnected' to separate the rods from the couplings, andthe couplings from the rods t' i', substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for canning food, the combination with the cylinder, a removable end and a track Within the cylinder, of a movable carriage upon the track, platforms for y tiers of goods in planes parallel with thev oarriage-platform, and each guided vertically over the said carriage, means within the cyl-- inder for supporting and for adj'nsting the said platforms as loaded and during a portion of the operations employed in the tank and means for exerting a pressure on the. platforms and cans for holding down the covers of the cans during the admission of air, substantially as set forth. 7. In an apparatus for canning food, the combination with a vacuum-tank comprising a cylinder and a olosable end, a track within ti," cylinder, a Carriage adapted to receive the goods to be treated and movable on the ICO track in and ont of the cylinder, of platforms for the goods above the carriage, devices eonneoted to the upper part of the tank and suspended Within the same, said devices acting for supporting the platforms of the carriage .andthe goods thereon and means for adjust-` inf.; the said supporting devices for exerting a pressure upon the cans and the platforms for holding' down the Covers'of the cans during the admission of air, a pipe for exhausting the air, a pipe for admitting Water for cooling, or other fluid forelfeoting the oper ations, substan tially as setnforth.

, ln ,an apparatus for canning` food, the

combination with a vacuum-tank comprising a `ovllzider and a elosalile end, a track within Tin f vlin .ler, a carriage adapted to receive the fonds te be treated and movable on the tank in and ont ol' the cylinder, of platforms for the goods above the carriage, veitiealiythe Cane upon the platforms during the LCL to adjustable devices eonneeted no the upper mission of air, Substantially as and f0.1' the pari; of the t-ank and extending the1ein,`depurposes seb forth.

vices removably connected thereto within the Signed by me this Sth day of August, 1899. tank, support-s for tiie )latfol'ms connected 1 to the said removable delvieee and suspended l GE LEES' therefrom within the bank whereby the goods Witnesses:

are supported from the platforms or a presi.h l O. L. GRUMT,

sure is brought; to bear upon the covers of IRVING J. TILLMAN. 

